FERC-717 (NOPR in RM05-5-027) Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards for Business Practices & Communication Protocols)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM05-5-027 Supporting Statement.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-07-12
18 CFR 37.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-07-12
16 USC 824(e).pdf Supplementary Document	2019-06-10
18 CFR 38.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-06-10

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
236367	RM05-5-027 NOPR	New
23197	Open Access Same-Time Information System (OASIS)	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0173	ICR Reference No: 201906-1902-003
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201708-1902-004
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-717
Title: FERC-717 (NOPR in RM05-5-027) Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards for Business Practices & Communication Protocols)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 11/04/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/12/2019
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is filing comment and withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the proposed rulemaking and will include in the supporting statement of the next ICR--to be submitted to OMB at the final rule stage--a description of how the agency has responded to any public comments on the ICR, including comments on maximizing the practical utility of the collection and minimizing the burden.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2021	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	170	0	170
Time Burden (Hours)	5,100	0	5,100
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The Federal Power Act Section 205 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure that the rates and charges for the wholesale sale of electric energy are just and reasonable. Section 205 also requires that the rules and regulations affecting or pertaining to the rates and charges for the wholesale sale of electric energy be just and reasonable. Industry-wide business practice standards help the industry achieve increased levels of efficiency. The WEQ Version 003.1 and Version 003.2 Business Practice Standards build on the Commission’s work in preventing undue discrimination and preference in transmission service (in Order Nos. 890, 890-A, 890-B and 890-C, and includes six OASIS-related standards that NAESB modified in response to directives and guidance provided in Order Nos. 676-E, 676-H, and 890). The WEQ Version 003.2 Standards include modifications and reservations to existing standards and newly developed standards made to support the short-term preemption process (WEQ-001-25) and the merger of like transmission reservations (WEQ-001-24) prescribed in the OASIS Suite of Standards. The WEQ Version 003.2 Standards also included other changes that were made to support consistency with NERC Reliability Standards. NAESB made these changes as a result of continuing coordination with NERC regarding dynamic tagging and pseudo-ties, and the finalization of the transition of the industry registry tool from NERC to NAESB. NAESB also made additional changes to seven suites of the WEQ Business Practices to ensure the standards accurately reflect revisions to the NERC Reliability Standards. In addition, NAESB made changes to support market operator functionalities to support the full use of the market operator as a separate role within the EIR and on e-Tags. This NOPR requires public utilities to operate in compliance with the WEQ Version 003.2 business practice standards. In a previous Final Rule (Order No. 889), the Commission required public utilities to establish Open Access Same-Time Information System (OASIS) sites to provide transmission customers with equal and timely access to information about transmission and ancillary services provided in the tariffs. This requirement was established because the Commission believes that transmission customers must have simultaneous access to the same information available to the Transmission Provider in order to achieve nondiscriminatory transmission services. The Commission determined that standardization of business practices and communication processes benefits the electric industry by providing uniform methods for public utilities to conduct business with different transmission providers. Many participants in electric markets conduct business transactions involving a number of different transmission providers. Establishing a uniform set of procedures and communication protocols increases the efficiency of such transactions. The public utilities subject to this NOPR will be required to make tariff filings (FERC-516E) referencing the WEQ Version 003.2 standards and stating that they will implement their tariff in accordance with the requirements of the WEQ Version 003.2 standards. Public utilities currently collect and post information on various systems such as OASIS currently in use by the industry. The revisions within these revised NAESB standards may adjust some of the business practices around this information but does not substantially affect the amount or content of the information. Without these standards, the same transactions would occur. However, the details regarding each transaction would vary from utility to utility hindering standardization.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824d Name of Law: Federal Power Act
   US Code: 16 USC 824e Name of Law: Federal Power Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AF65	Proposed rulemaking	84 FR 24050	05/24/2019

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Open Access Same-Time Information System (OASIS)
RM05-5-027 NOPR

---

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The burden for the FERC-717 information collection is increasing so that the industry can implement the new and revised business practice standards adopted by NAESB and proposed in the NOPR to be incorporated by reference into FERC’s regulations.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $87,341

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 07/12/2019

---